China hits back at Clive Palmer over rant

Beijing has hit back at Clive Palmer over his explosive television tirade against China.Source: AAP

BEIJING has hit back at Clive Palmer over his explosive spray against China, condemning his remarks as absurd and irresponsible.

THE Chinese embassy in Canberra on Tuesday rebuked the federal MP for a tirade on ABC television in which he called the Chinese government "mongrels" and "bastards".

"The words of Mr Clive Palmer MP are absurd and irresponsible, which are full of ignorance and prejudice," a spokesperson for the embassy told AAP. But the Palmer United Party (PUP) leader isn't showing any sign of backing down from his remarks. When asked if he stood by his use of the term "mongrel" to describe Australia's largest trading partner, Mr Palmer said it was "an accurate reflection" of a government that executed its own people. "They have one-day trials, they don't have any democracy," he told Fairfax radio station 3AW on Tuesday.
"I feel for the Chinese people that live under such tyranny." His lack of remorse threatens to fan the flames even further, after politicians of all persuasions spent the day trying to distance themselves from his remarks. The federal government, which hopes to finalise a free trade agreement with China this year, issued a statement to make it "perfectly clear" it valued its relationship with the Asian powerhouse. "Peripheral issues will not distract the government in its work to broaden and deepen this most important relationship," Trade Minister Andrew Robb said. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop labelled the comments "offensive, unnecessary and unacceptable", while Labor leader Bill Shorten said they didn't reflect the views of most Australians. "I think a lot of Chinese-Australians would understandably feel hurt by these comments," he said. But two of Mr Palmer's senators stood up for their boss - albeit with very different defences. Outspoken PUP senator Jacqui Lambie said the Chinese threat to the "western world democracies" was at an unprecedented high and Australia should double its military immediately. "If anybody thinks that we should have a national security and defence policy which ignores the threat of a Chinese communist invasion - you're delusional and got rocks in your head," she said in a statement. Her colleague, Chinese-born PUP senator Dio Wang, said Mr Palmer's comments were taken out of context. "There has never been the slightest suggestion on his part of a prejudicial view of members of the Chinese community," he said in a statement. Mr Palmer is embroiled in a legal battle with Chinese state-owned company CITIC Pacific, which has accused him of siphoning off $12 million in funds. It's an allegation Mr Palmer has strenuously denied. But after his widely-broadcast remarks he's called on the government to stand up more for Australian companies instead of "bending over backwards" for China. "We don't want a relationship that's not based on mutual respect," he said. The Chinese embassy spokesman said Beijing believed the bilateral relationship served the fundamental interests of both countries and had the support of its peoples.

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